Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today applauded the inclusion of funding for two facilities at Mountain Home Air Force Base (MHAFB) as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which was approved by the House.
“I am proud that the Appropriations Committee included this critical funding for Mountain Home Air Force Base,” said Congressman Simpson.  “Idaho is proud of the Base and its airmen and the work they do to keep our country safe.  This funding will provide much needed upgrades to the base facilities and enable our airmen to do their job safely and effectively.”

The funding is split among the following two projects:

·                     $690,000 is slated to go to the Civil Engineer Maintenance Complex at MHAFB. The funding will be used for planning and design of a replacement facility for civil engineering functions at the base. Those functions are currently dispersed among 10 World War II and Korean War era facilities that are in various stages of disrepair. The existing buildings are a danger to those working in them and adversely affect all daily civil engineering operations.

·                     $20 million is slated to go to the Logistics Readiness Center at MHAFB. Once fully funded, the new Logistics Readiness Center will provide command and control for all materials in-bound and out-bound, including freight processing, packing, crating, and provide bulk and bin storage. These functions are currently dispersed among several buildings because the existing Logistics Supply building is a condemned 53 year-old wooden structure beyond economical repair.

Congressman Simpson also applauded the inclusion of funding for programs to assist our nation’s veterans and funding to support military facilities throughout the country and across the world.  “Taking care of our veterans must be a priority.  They make great sacrifices to protect our freedom, and I’m pleased that this bill provides the support that they deserve,” said Simpson.

The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate.